Painter&#39;s platform.



W. C. GAW.

PAINTERS PLATFORM- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. l9ll- RENEWED MAR- 25, 1915..

Patented June 15, 1915 THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHDTO-LITHO., wAsHINGmN. D. C.

WILLIAM C. GAW, OF CLEVELAND,'OHIO.

IPAINTERS PLATFORM.

Speeificationcf Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed January 21, 1911, Serial No. 604,002. Renewed March 25, 1915. Serial No. 17,053.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. GAw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and 5 State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Painters Platforms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to painters platforms or planks adapted for supporting workmen beside a wall. Its object is to provide a trussed plank which shall be stifi and unyielding even when used in extreme lengths, and which can be shortened so asto meet all exigencies of use without abandonment of the truss feature.

Another object of the invention is the pro-- vision of a painters platform made in a plurality of sections which sections can be used simultaneously in the form of a single extended platform, or disconnected and used separately should occasion demand.

Another object is to produce an exceedingly cheap, strong, simple, and practical device of this character, and another object is the provision of a simple and practical chain gripping device. One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device; Fig. 2 a similar view of the right hand end thereof drawn to larger scale; Fig. 3 a top view of the portion shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a longitudinal cross section taken on the'line 55 in Fig. 4.; Fig. 6 a cross section taken on the line 66 of Fig. Q'Ycertain parts being further broken away; Fig. 7 a detail side view; and Figs. 8, 9, and 10are views of the chain gripping device.

Describing the parts by reference characters, the platform is illustrated as built up of three sections 1, 2, and 3, each of the sections preferably consisting-of a single plank, and the middle section 1 being preferably slightly longer than the end sections. Each end of the middle section is provided with a fitting 4, which consists of a metallic plate 5 crossing the plank and formed with upturned ears at each side projecting to a point above the upper surface of the plank.

. This plate is also provided with plurality provided with somewhat similar fittings,

each of which comprises a plate 8 secured transversely of the plank and having downturned ears 9 embracing the first section and extending a distance beyond the lower surface thereof, and formed with pivot openings. As the sections or planks are all preferably of the same width, it will be seen that this construction serves to keep them all in line. Pivoted between each pair of ears 9 upon a bolt 10 is an arm 11 having adjacent the pivot a pair of cam shaped knuckles 12, and having at its other end a pair of twisted fingers or clothes-pole hooks 13. These arms are turned so that the prongs of the cams point toward the middle of the plat form and so that the arms fall toward the ends thereof. The bottom of sections 2 and 3 are formed with spaced sockets 14 adapted to receive the studs 6 and lock the sections against endwise slipping.

Near the outer ends of the'sections 2 and 3, chain engaging devices 24 are attached, and chains 16 and 17 are secured thereto, the other ends of said chains being connected by a flexible member 18, preferably of wire rope, passing through the hooks 13. This tension member, taken with the compression members 1, 2, 3, and 11 now forms a complete truss, and itslength can be easily changed by unhooking the chain, lowering the arms 11 to release the cams, setting the sections 2 and 3 along the section 1 aspermitted by the spacing'of the sockets 14, and again raising the arms and hooking on the tension member. This tension member might be of any desired material of a nonextensible nature, but chains are chosen for theend sections because of the ease of adjusting their length and wire rope for the central span because of its greater lightness, cheapness, and smoothness, No attention is ordinarily paid to spacing the sockets 14: accordingto the length of the chain links inasmuch as, with any ordinary length of links, the flexibility of the platform renders such care unnecessary. In practically all cases the platform is bowed upwardly or crowned by an amount equivalent to from one to three chain links, which affords ample leeway. Neither is there any necessity for taking steps tov retain the arms 11 in extended position, other than to see that they tend to fold toward the ends of the platform, as the inclination of the tenslon member between them and the ends of the platform will tend to hold them outwardly.

The means for taking up the chain may be either of the character shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in which the adjustment takes place at the point of attachment between the chain and the rope, or of the type shown in Fig. 10 in which the adjustment takes place at the point of attachment between the chain and platform, or both may be used together as shown in Fig. 1.

The first form of grip is illustrated in detail in Figs. 8, and 9, and consists of an elongated or oval metallic loop 19 having at one end a socket for receiving the wire rope 18 and having at the other end a notch 20 wide enough to receive a chain link. The interior of the loop is of sufficient diameter to permit the chain to pass through, and is formed with a flat surface 21 adjacent said notch. Below the notch the loop is continued, and this portion of the loop is warped, as shown in Fig. 9, so that the center of the chain shall be in alinement with the wire rope. 22 is a bead or pin extending.

entirely around the loop. In using this device the end of the chain is passed through the loop so as to seat one of the links on the flat surface 21 and the next link is turned so as to extend through the notch 20.

The attachment for securing the chain to the plank is of much the same nature as shown in Fig. 10. It consists of a flat plate 22 having'at one end a base plate 23 perpendicular thereto, and also having reinforcing braces 24. The upper end of this plate is cut away as at 25 to permit the passage of the chain, and a notch 26 similar in shape and purpose to the notch 20 in the fitting 19 is formed adjacent thereto. The use of this attachment is exactly like that of the fitting 19 and needs, it is thought, no fur.- ther description.

It will be obvious that upon removing the bolts 10 the entire platform can be dismembered and its parts used separately or prepared for more easy transportation.

While I have necessarily described my invention in detail, I do not propose to be limited to such details except as the same may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed, or may be rendered necessary by the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A painters platform comprising, in combination, a pair of overlapping sections, an arm secured to the inner end of each of said sections and extending downwardly below the same, the lower end of each of said arms being formed to receive a tension member, and said arms being spaced from each other upon the same side of said platform when the same is extended, a tension member traversing the lower ends of said arms and secured to the outer ends of the terminal sections, means for shifting said sections over each other to vary the total length of said platform and for securing said sections together when so shifted, and means for varying the length of said tension member.

2. A painters platform comprising a plurality of overlapping sections, a fitting secured to the inner end of the upper section and having a depending car at each side embracing said lower section, an arm pivoted between said ears and having a cam on its inner end and a tension-member-receivingdevice at its outer end, said cam being adapted to draw said sections together when said arm is extended at substantially right angles, a tension member passing through said device and secured near the ends of the platform, means for varying the length of said tension member, and means cooperating with said cam in holding said members against relative displacement.

3. A painters platform comprising, in combination, a main section and a terminal section at each end thereof and overlapping the end of the main section, a fitting secured to the inner end of each of the upper sections and having a depending ear at each side embracing said main sections, an arm pivoted between each pair of cars and hav ing a cam on its inner end, and having its outer end formed to engage a tension memher, said cams being adapted to draw said sections together when said arms are in extended position and to permit said arms to be folded toward the ends of the platform, cooperating pins and sockets carried by said sections and assisting said cams in locking the same against relative displacement, and a tension member engaging said arms and secured to the outer ends of said terminal sections for bracing said platform, said tension member being of adjustable length.

i. A painters platform comprising, in combination, a plurality of relatively adjustable supporting sections, bracing members hinged to said sections and. arranged l when moved to a position transverse thereto to secure said sections together against accidental relative displacement, said bracing members being formed at their outer ends for the reception of a tension member, a tension member secured to the outer end of the terminal section of said platform and trav ersing said bracing members, and means for securing said tension member to said terminal section, in a plurality of adjusted positions whereby the length of the same is determined.

5. A painters platform consisting of overlapping extensible sections, clamping members for securing together the ends of said sections, a rigid arm carried by each of said clamping members and extending downwardly below the platform, the end of each of said arms being formed to receive a tension member and said arms being spaced from each other upon the same side of said platform when the same is extended, a tencured to said platform adjacent each of its ends and traversing said arm, and means for varying the length of said tension member.

7. A-painters platform consisting of overlapping extensible sections, clamping members for securing together the ends of said sections, an arm pivoted to each of said clamping members and adapted either to be folded against said sections or to be extended downwardly below the same, the end of said arm being formed to receive a tension member, means for securing said arm-in extended position, a tension member adapted to traverse the lower end of said arm and to be secured to the outer ends of the terminal sections, and means for varying the length of said tension member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. GAW.

Witnesses:

HAROLD E. SMITH, BRENNAN B. WEST.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington D. 0. 

